Dynamic shielding system of cellular signals for an antenna of an unmanned aerial vehicle

ABSTRACT

Dynamic shielding of cellular signals for an antenna of an unmanned aerial vehicle is disclosed. An example method may include receiving a navigation route for an unmanned aerial vehicle to execute during flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle and determining an orientation of a radio signal shield for an antenna of the unmanned aerial vehicle using ground level signal propagation information of radio signals for a network and the navigation route, wherein the radio signal shield prevents the radio signals from being received by the antenna from directions based on the orientation. The method may further include adjusting the radio signal shield using the orientation and communicating with a cellular base station of the network using the antenna.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/847,114, filed Apr. 13, 2020, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/215,525, filed Dec. 10, 2018, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,623,086, issued Apr. 14, 2020, which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/481,368, filed Apr. 6, 2017, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,153,830, issued Dec. 11, 2018, all of whichapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirrespective entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication networks anddrone device usage and, more particularly, to a dynamic shield system ofcellular signals for an antenna of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also referred to as unmanned aerialsystems (UASs) or more commonly, drones, may be mobile platforms capableof detecting information, delivering goods, handling objects, and/orperforming other actions. UAVs may provide many benefits over mannedvehicles, including lower operating costs, fewer dangers of usage and/ortravel, and increased accessibility to areas that may be dangerous fornormal human travel. Moreover, UAVs may perform certain actions withoutthe need for human assistance, for example, through preprogrammedinstructions that may free operators to perform other tasks. Thus, UAVsmay be preprogrammed to fly a flight path or route that may be navigatedby the UAV using one or more flight controllers, as well as necessarysensors to execute the route. However, during operation of the UAVs, itmay be beneficial or required to maintain intermittent or constantcontact with the UAVs in order to determine whether the UAVs areproperly executing their programmed tasks, adjust one or more programmedtasks of the UAVs (e.g., their flight path), and/or provide real-timecontrol of the UAVs to one or more operators, such as a remote human ornon-human operator that actively flies the UAVs. In order to providecontact with the UAVs, the UAVs may be equipped with one or moreantennas that may maintain network connectivity, such as connectivity toa cellular network. As networks used for ground based user endpoints aregenerally optimized for those user endpoints operating at a groundlevel, altitude (e.g., how high the UAV is located) may affect and/orreduce performance of the antenna used to communicate with the UAV. Forexample, ground level geographic objects and factors may causevariations in signal propagation from base stations of the wirelessnetwork as compared to signal propagation at altitude.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network environment in which a systemfor testing and mapping of network connectivity by a UAV, according toan embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of base station transmitting a cellularnetwork signal that is affected by ground level objects causinginterference and loss, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary UAV having a dynamicshielding unit that imitates ground level interference and loss ataltitude, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary UAV controlling adynamic shield system of cellular signals for an antenna of the UAV,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for a dynamic shield system ofcellular signals for an antenna of a UAV, according to an embodiment;and

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example of an electronic systemwith which one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may beimplemented, according to an embodiment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are bestunderstood by referring to the detailed description that follows. Itshould be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identifylike elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, where showingstherein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the presentdisclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious configurations of the subject technology and is not intended torepresent the only configurations in which the subject technology can bepracticed. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitutea part of the detailed description. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent tothose skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited tothe specific details set forth herein and may be practiced using one ormore embodiments. In one or more instances, structures and componentsare shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the conceptsof the subject technology. One or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure are illustrated by and/or described in connection with one ormore figures and are set forth in the claims.

Using various embodiments, dynamic shielding of cellular signals for ofan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be performed by utilizing anantenna and a specialized antenna shielding unit of a UAV that mayselectively connect to access points of a cellular network during travelof the UAV along set flight paths. The antenna of the UAV maycommunicate with the access points through a cellular technology signal,such as those signals communicated by base stations (e.g., accesspoints) of the cellular network and the antenna of the UAV.Traditionally, cellular networks are optimized for devices connecting ata ground level, such as two meters off the ground where typical cellulardevices (e.g., mobile phones) may generally operate. In such cases,ground level objects (e.g., buildings and other manmade objects, treesand other natural obstacles, etc.) and geographic conditions (e.g.,landforms including hills, mountains, etc. that may affect signaltransmissions) may cause signal interference, reception problems, andissues in network coverage. In other embodiments, signal interferenceand/or loss may occur from other ground level occurrences, includingloss due to bodies (e.g., people) and in-vehicle loss fromtransportation vehicles utilized by people during use of UEs. In orderto compensate for ground level issues in network coverage, cellular basestations are optimized to transmit wireless network signals to accountthese ground level factors. However, UAVs travelling at altitude mayinstead encounter little to no ground level interference from groundlevel factors and/or may encounter different signal interferences on thecellular network, such as multiple base station signals interfering ataltitude.

In order to provide network connectivity to an antenna of a UAVoperating at altitude similar to user endpoints (UEs, which may includeuser devices, such as mobile phones, as well as UAVs) at ground level,the antenna of the UAV may be shielded using one or more radio frequency(RF) signal absorbing or reflecting materials that may be used to mimicRF signal reception at a ground level corresponding to the UAVs currentposition and altitude. For example, a UAV may be instructed to travelone or more flight paths at one or more altitudes, includingpreprogrammed routes and real-time instruction and operation of the UAV.The UAV may correspond to any device operated or to be operated atflight altitude. While operating the UAV on a flight path, a controllerof the UAV may adjust and shield the antenna using the RF signalabsorbing/reflecting material(s) or “shield(s).” This/these shield(s)may prevent RF signal reception by the antenna of the UAV from one ormore incident directions. In this regard, the shield(s) may go up, down,or otherwise rotate or configure around the antenna to block incoming RFradiation from one or more selected directions by the controller. Thecontroller may also add more or additional shields to a direction toprovide additional shielding of RF signals incident from that direction.

In order to determine a placement or orientation of the shield(s) aroundthe antenna, information necessary to imitate or mimic ground levelinterferences and network issues may be utilized. Additionally, as theUAV travels along a flight path, the current location of the UAV may bedetermined (e.g., at least a two-dimensional (2D) position of a latitudeand longitude, however, certain embodiments may further use athree-dimensional (3D) position having latitude, longitude, andaltitude). The 2D or 3D positions may be measured from a ground level ormay be relative to the location and position of the base stations usedto facilitate network connectivity and communication with theaerial-based devices at flight altitudes through a cellular technologysignal. The location of the UAV may be used to extrapolate interferenceor loss of RF signals from base towers of the cellular network bydetermining interference cause by ground based objects at a ground levelposition matching or corresponding to the 2D or 3D position of the UAV(e.g., having the same or similar latitude and/or longitude). Onceground based interferences and losses are determined, placement ororientation of the shield(s) may be determined based on the ground basedinterferences/loss so that the shield(s) mimic or imitate suchinterferences/loss at altitude. This placement/orientation of theshield(s) may be determined using the information of the cellularnetwork performance, a cellular network map of ground based performance,losses, and/or interferences, or other information that determines whatRF signals should be received at particular positions based on theground level interferences and/or losses of signals for the cellularnetwork from the base stations of the cellular network.

In certain embodiments, the controller may select placement of theshields instead or additionally using detected RF signals, for example,where the antenna may detect RF signals from a specific direction orfrom a base station in a certain direction. In other embodiment, thearrangement and/or placement of the shield(s) may be predetermined basedon the route of the UAV so that the present location of the UAV does notneed to be determined and the shield(s) are adjusted/orientatedaccording to time and/or the controller of the UAV may access thelocation-based shielding placements/orientations based on the locationof the UAV without needing to determine the placements/orientationsduring flight on the path.

Once shielded, the antenna of the UAV may be used to communicate on thecellular network with a base tower using the cellular technology signal(e.g., 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 5G, etc.) for the cellular network. The shield(s)of the antenna may further be adjusted during travel on the flight path,which may correspond to new locations. For example, once within range ofanother base station based on the ground level interference from groundlevel object, the shield(s) may be adjusted so that the antenna mayconnect with the new base station and shield the antenna from RF signalsfrom the previously connected base station. In this way, the shields mayimitate terrain clutter and signal loss occurring from ground

In one or more embodiments, a device includes an antenna and a shieldingunit for the antenna and comprising at least one radio signal shieldingcomponent that is movable around the antenna, wherein the at least oneradio signal shielding component prevents reception of radio signals bythe antenna from at least one direction associated with placement of theat least one radio signal around the antenna. The device furtherincludes a non-transitory memory storing antenna shielding data for theat least one radio signal shielding component around the antenna duringoperation of an unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as one or more hardwareprocessors configured to execute instructions to cause the device toperform operations comprising determining a location of the unmannedaerial vehicle during operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle anddetermining a first placement of the at least one radio signal shieldingcomponent using the antenna shielding data and the location. Theoperations also include instructing the at least one radio signal toshield the antenna according to the first placement and communicating,using the antenna, on a network during operation of the unmanned aerialvehicle based on shielding the antenna using the first placement.

In one or more embodiments, a method for a dynamically shieldingcellular signals for an antenna of an unmanned aerial vehicle includesreceiving a navigation route for an unmanned aerial vehicle to executeduring flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle and determining anorientation of a radio signal shield for an antenna of the unmannedaerial vehicle using ground level signal propagation information ofradio signals for a network and the navigation route, wherein the radiosignal shield prevents the radio signals from being received by theantenna from directions based on the orientation. The method furtherincludes adjusting the radio signal shield using the orientation andcommunicating with a cellular base station of the network using theantenna.

In one or more embodiments, a system comprises an unmanned aerialvehicle, an antenna mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and aplurality of radio frequency shields that prevent radio frequencyreception of the antenna from one or more directions based on one ormore positions of the plurality of radio frequency shields, wherein theplurality of radio frequency shields are rotatable around the antenna.The system further includes a non-transitory memory storing geographicinformation for transmission of radio signals of a network at a groundlevel, wherein the geographic information comprises ground level objectsaffecting the radio signals of the network at the ground level, and oneor more hardware processors configured to execute instructions to causethe device to perform operations comprising receiving a flight path ofthe unmanned aerial vehicle. The operations further include determiningshielding positions of the plurality of radio frequency shields duringflight of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight path using thegeographic information, wherein the shielding positions are selected tosimulate the ground level objects affecting radio signals of the networkduring flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight path. Theoperations then adjust the plurality of radio frequency shieldsaccording to the shielding positions during flight of the unmannedaerial vehicle on the flight path and communicate, using the antennasignal, on the network with one or more base stations during flight ofthe unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight path based on the shieldpositions.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which areincorporated into this section by reference. A more completeunderstanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to thoseskilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantagesthereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of oneor more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets ofdrawings that will first be described briefly.

Various techniques are provided for a dynamic shield system of cellularsignals for an antenna of an unmanned aerial vehicle. One or moreunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also referred to herein as unmannedaerial systems (UASs) or drones, may operate at a flight altitudecorresponding to one or more locations along a flight path or routewithin a three-dimensional (3D) space having a latitude, longitude, andaltitude. These UAVs may travel at one or more altitudes according to aflight plan or route and communicate on a cellular network using theantenna. A location or travel route of the UAV may have a 3D position(or a 3D path/route within a 3D space) while travelling on the flightroute, which may correspond to a ground level location or position, forexample, through the same or similar latitude and/or longitude (e.g.,two-dimensional (2D) coordinates). In other embodiments, the location orroute of a UAV in 3D space (e.g., at altitude) may otherwise correspondto ground level positions, for example, through matching or creatingsimilarities of the UAV at altitude to locations of ground level UEwithin coverage for a wireless network. The altitude coordinate may be adistance (e.g., height) from a reference sea level. In some cases,rather than the longitude, latitude, and/or altitude coordinates, othercoordinate systems by which to define the position of the UAV relativeto the access point/base station or other selected landmark.

The cellular network may be provided by a cellular network carrier orprovider to facilitate communications between devices over the cellularnetwork. Cellular network carriers generally design the wireless networkto account for ground level disruptions in RF signal transmissions,ground level interference from terrain clutter and other geographicobjects or considerations, and other types of losses caused at theground level to ground level UEs. Base stations of a cellular networkare generally those base stations utilized with user endpoints (UEs,which may include cellular devices as well as the UAVs discussed herein)at ground level or near ground level, such as vehicles (e.g., cars) andmobile phones operated at or near ground level. For example, positionand orientation (e.g., tilt) of antennas of the base stations may beconfigured to provide higher signal strength for devices below theseantennas. In this regard, the base stations may be designed with a mainantenna pattern that primarily encompasses a ground region. Furthermore,at lower altitudes, obstructions such as buildings and trees may helpprevent signals from multiple base stations from reaching the vehiclesand devices at or near ground level with signal strengths that causesignificant interference. Additionally, body and vehicle loss may beaccounted for when designing and optimizing a wireless cellular networkat ground level.

In some aspects, although the UAVs are not communicating with basestations dedicated to aerial communication, the UAVs may be configuredto (e.g., programmed to) send and receive radio signals on the cellularnetwork to accommodate (e.g., communicate with) the base stationswithout disrupting service to UEs at ground level. In an aspect, thebase stations may accommodate cellular communication with the UAVs withminimal or no changes to structural features, such as the housing,antennas, and/or other components, such that the use of the basestations with the UEs at ground level are not affected by theaccommodation of UAVs through providing a dynamic shield system ofcellular signals for an antenna of a UAV. In this regard, the dynamicshield system may be utilized to mimic or imitate ground levelinterference, loss, or other RF signal issues and losses encountered byground level UEs while the UAV travels at altitude in an environmentthat is not designed for network signal coverage and lacking a dominatebase station or other RF signal transceiver, which has instead beenoptimized for ground level UEs.

When radio modules, such as 3G, 4G, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G,other 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-based radio modules,and/or other radio modules, are placed at flight altitude, such as 400feet or 500 feet, the line of sight propagation of signals from multiplebase stations may be received by the radio modules and causeinterference. The different antenna patterns (e.g., different verticalantenna patterns) of the base stations at different radio frequencies(e.g., in different frequency bands) and/or at different altitudes maycause degradation of communicated signals, including signals associatedwith application data and command/control functions. In addition, higheraltitudes generally have fewer obstructions than at ground level, andthus more signals may reach the devices/vehicles at higher altitudes andcause interference relative to devices/vehicles at ground level. Theaerial devices/vehicles (e.g., UAVs) may include antennas to receiveradio signals from one or more base stations, such as a closest basestation and/or a base station associated with highest signal strength.The UAV may be equipped with cellular technology (e.g., using LTE orother cellular technology communication signal) antenna that receives RFsignals on the cellular network. However, at altitude, theaforementioned issues become apparent to radio signals received by theantennas of the UAVs. In order to compensate for these issues, the UAVsmay be equipped with one or more wireless signal shields and a shieldingunit or component, which may dynamically adjust to mirror or imitateground level interference and loss of UEs at a ground level associatedwith the current position of the UAVs.

The dynamic shielding unit may include one or more shielding componentsor materials, which may absorb and/or reflect wireless signals incomingfrom an incident direction (e.g., when interposed between the directionof the incoming wireless signal and an antenna of the UAV). Thus, whenone or more of the shielding components or materials (or one or moreshields) are placed between the antenna of the UAV and the incomingdirection of a wireless signal, the shield(s) may prevent the antennafrom detecting, absorbing and/or receiving the wireless signal, as wellas transmitting wireless signals from the antenna to other receivers ortransceivers in that direction. The shield(s) may completely absorb orreflect the signal, or partially absorb or reflect the signal. Thus,more than one shield may be required in certain aspects to provide amore complete signal shielding from a direction. The shield(s) mayprevent radio frequency (RF) signals on the cellular network in the RFrange used by the cellular network that are provided from base stationsof the cellular network carrier within coverage areas of the RF signalsfrom those base stations. In other embodiments, the shield may furtheror instead absorb or reflect wireless signals for other types ofwireless networks, for example, to accommodate other types of wirelesscommunication signals (e.g., satellite systems, short range wirelesscommunication signals, etc.). However, in certain embodiments, thematerial used for the shields may be selected to only block RF signalson the cellular network to allow other types of wireless communicationsselectively used for the UAV (e.g., line of sight communications tocontrol the UAV).

The shielding unit may therefore include one or more shields used toselectively block wireless signal from specific directions determined bythe UAV or other control unit. In order to provide selecting blocking,the shield(s) of the shielding unit may be arranged, rotatable, orotherwise movable around an antenna of the UAV used to communicate onthe cellular network. A controller and one or more physical movementcomponents may be used to move, arrange, and place the shield(s) aroundthe antenna as determined by the controller or other processingcomponent of the UAV. The physical movement components may includemechanical attachments, motors, or other features to arrange theshield(s), as well as reposition the shields during flight of the UAV.The controller and/or a processor of the UAV may determine placement,arrangement, and/or repositioning of the shield(s) during flight, forexample, based on input data necessary to determine placement of theshield(s) in order to have the shield(s) mimic or imitate ground basedloss and interference while the UAV travels at altitude. Thus, theshield(s) may have the capability to rotate and move as necessary aroundthe antenna using the shielding unit and one or more processors todetermine correct shield placement during flight.

In order to determine correct shield placement of the shield(s) duringflight, a location of the UAV may be required. As previously discussed,a position or location of the UAV may be determined, for example, a GPScoordinate of the UAV. Thus, the UAV may include a GPS component, whichmay interface with one or more remote GPS processors to determine alocation of the UAV. Other types of location determining systems mayalso be used. Additionally, the location of the UAV may be determinedthrough the flight route of the UAV, which may be plotted prior totravel on the flight path, and thus, the location of the UAV may bedetermined as a factor of time (e.g., where the UAV is on the flightpath over time). The UAVs may be equipped with additional devices andsensors necessary for autonomous flying, which may also be used todetermine a location of the UAV, for example, where the UAV divergesfrom a flight path. The location of the UAV may correspond to a 3Dposition (e.g. longitude, latitude, and altitude), which may be used todetermine a similar ground level location, for example, in 2D space(e.g., the ground level longitude and/or latitude). The location of theUAV may therefore be matched or associated with a ground level locationso that similar ground level losses that may occur for ground based UEshaving the ground level location may be determined.

Using the location of the UAV, the controller or other processor for theUAV may determine similar ground level loss and/or interferenceexperienced at ground level for ground level propagation of RF signalsto ground level UEs when utilizing the cellular network at a groundlevel location similar to the location of the UAV. For example, ataltitude, the UAV may not experience loss due to geographic clutter,terrain, and other ground level issues. However, the UAV may experienceother coverage and interference issues due to interfering base stations(e.g., where a dominate RF base station does not exist due to the lackof ground level loss), the obstacle information around the UAV, weatherinformation around the UAV and/or generally any other static and dynamicinformation associated with flight of the UAV. Thus, the antenna of theUAV may be shielded in specific directions to mimic or imitate theground level losses experienced by ground level propagation of RFsignals from one or more base stations of the cellular network to UEshaving a similar location to the current location of the UAV whentravelling at altitude. The information on ground level interference andloss and may be used to determine which RF signal base station may beused by a ground level device at a ground level location similar to theat altitude location of the UAV. Thus, information of cellular networkcoverage, terrain and geographic objects and considerations, basestation RF signal propagation, and/or other information or mapping thatdetermines what loss/interference ground level UEs experience at variouspositions may be used with the position of the UAV. Such information maybe determined by the cellular network carrier or a third partydetermining and/or mapping cellular network coverage, base stationusage, and/or RF signal propagation. Thus, the controller and/orprocessor of the UAV may select shield placements based on the locationand this information in order to mirror the ground level interferenceand/or loss. The shielding of the antenna may also be affected by thealtitude, for example, by requiring additional shielding for higheraltitudes having more competing RF base stations and/or loss obstructionby geographic conditions.

In other embodiments, the ground level location matching or associatedwith the flight location of the UAV may not be required, and instead theflight location of the UAV may be used to determine shield placement ororientation through a 3D map of signal coverage of the cellular networkand at altitude (e.g., altitude based) interferences or otherinformation. For example, a map of cellular coverage may includeinterferences in cellular network signaling, network connectivity issuesin the cellular network signals, messaging errors on the cellularnetwork, and/or other signal diagnostics for cellular network signals onthe cellular network. The map may include 3D positions of such networkissues, and may be used by the controller or processor to determineshield placement based on the network coverage issues.

Once the ground level interference and/or loss is determined for thecurrent location of the UAV, the shield controller and/or processor ofthe UAV may determine the shield placement. As discussed herein, ashield placement may correspond to shielding of the antenna using theone or more shields in order to mimic or imitate ground levelinterference and loss experienced by ground level UEs at a similarlocation to the UAV. Thus, the shield placement or orientation may beused to selectively shield the antenna of the UAV in order to receive RFsignals for a selected direction and avoid interference of RF signals onthe cellular network caused by operating the UAV at one or morealtitudes. In this regard, the shield placement may be used to select RFsignals for a specific base station, thereby creating a dominate RFserver for communication with the UAV. In certain embodiments, the UAVmay not determine shield placement or orientation using the location ofthe UAV and the necessary information on ground level loss and/orgeographic conditions, and instead a remote processing entity, such asthe cellular network carrier, may determine the shield placement andpreload the shield placement or feed the shield placement in real-timeto the UAV.

Once the position of the shield(s) is determined, the shield(s) may bemoved, rotated, or otherwise arranged around the antenna based on thepositioning of the shield(s) to mimic the ground level loss experiencedat ground level for RF signals on the cellular network. The shield(s)may therefore be used to select specific RF signals to be blocked andother signaling to be received by the antenna of the UAV. During flight,as the location of the UAV changes, the ground level loss/interferencefor the changing positions may be determined, and the shield(s) may beadjusted and repositioned as necessary.

Once the shields are positioned, the UAV may utilize the antenna tocommunicate on the cellular network through communicating with one ormore base stations of the cellular network carrier. The network mayinclude a wide area network (WAN), such as a cellular-based WAN. In thecase of a cellular network, the cellular network information may beprovided for the cellular-based WAN. In an aspect, communications on thecellular network may be provided as part a broadcast message to and fromthe UAV. For example, the information may be communicated in a masterinformation block (MIB) message, system information block (SIB) message,Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS)-based message, EvolvedMBMS (eMBMS)-based message, and/or generally any message that can betransmitted (e.g., broadcasted) to and from the base stations of thecellular network and UAVs within receiving range of radio signals fromthe base stations.

Although the description of the present disclosure is made with respectto UAVs and cellular networks, the techniques described herein may beapplied to any wireless network and any devices/vehicles capable ofestablishing connectivity in such wireless networks. By way ofnon-limiting example, the devices/vehicles may include, or may beincluded in, devices or vehicles at or near ground level (e.g., mobiledevices, cars), naval-based devices (e.g., watercraft), and devices athigher altitudes (e.g., UAVs, any device at higher altitudes). In thisregard, the techniques described herein may be utilized for deviceslocated at higher altitudes, including as mobile phones and/or otherdevices/vehicles operated at higher floors of a building.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example network environment 100 in which a dynamicshield system of cellular signals for an antenna of an unmanned aerialvehicle may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments.Not all of the depicted components may be required, however, and one ormore embodiments may include additional components shown in the figure.Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the claims as set forthherein. Additional components, different components, and/or fewercomponents may be provided. It is noted that sizes of various componentsand distances between these components are not drawn to scale in FIG. 1.

In an embodiment, the network environment 100 is implemented to formpart of a cellular network, such as a 3G, 4G, 5G, and/or other3GPP-based cellular network, and/or a cellular network based on othercellular standards. In this regard, as an example, the description ofFIG. 1 is made herein with respect to the network environment 100providing a cellular network. However, in some examples, the networkenvironment 100 may be additionally or alternatively implemented to formpart of a satellite communication network, microwave radio network,and/or other wireless networks.

The network environment 100 includes a UAV 110, a cellular networkcarrier 120, base stations 122 a-c, and a user device 130. UAV 110,cellular network carrier 120, base stations 122 a-c, and user device 130may be in communication directly or indirectly with each other. As usedherein, the phrases “in communication,” “communicatively connected,” andvariances thereof, encompass direct communication and/or indirectcommunication through one or more intermediary components and does notrequire direct physical (e.g., wired and/or wireless) communicationand/or constant communication, but rather additionally includesselective communication at periodic or aperiodic intervals, as well asone-time events.

UAV 110 may include, may be a component of, and/or may be referred toas, a user endpoint or UE. UAV 110 may include a flight control unit,communication unit, and payload unit. The flight control unit or otheroperation module of UAV 110 that may be configured to facilitatenavigation of UAV 110, e.g., take off, landing, and flight of UAV 110.Such an operation module may include any appropriate avionics, controlactuators, and/or other equipment, along with associated logic,circuitry, interfaces, memory, and/or code. Additionally, the flightcontrol unit or other operation module may include a controller thatreceives flight route information from one or more sources, including amemory and/or external controller (e.g., set instructions from a serviceprovider and/or inflight navigation/instructions from an operator) thatoperates UAV 110. The flight control unit may further include one ormore components to determine a location or position of UAV 110,including a 3D position (e.g., longitude, latitude, and altitude) of UAV110 when operating along a flight path. The location determinationcomponent may correspond to a global positioning system (GPS) component,or other component used to determine a location of UAV 110. The GPScomponent provides a current position of UAV 110 (e.g., using threecoordinates). The position information from the GPS, together withposition information of devices in communication with UAV 110, may allowUAV 110 to execute a flight route as well as provide positioninginformation associated with determination of antenna shielding, asdiscussed herein. Thus, the components of the flight control unit mayfacilitate implementation of various features supported by UAV 110.

The communication unit may include one or more radio transceivers (e.g.,that include antennas) along with associated logic, circuitry,interfaces, memory, and/or code that enable communications, e.g. withone or more of base stations 122 a-c, and/or directly with cellularnetwork carrier 120, via wireless interfaces and using the radiotransceivers. In FIG. 1, the radio transceivers of UAV 110 may beincluded in an antenna housing 112, which may be omnidirectional ordirectional. Antenna housing 112 may be utilized to radiate and/orreceive power uniformly in all directions, or one or more desireddirections to allow increased performance (e.g., higher signal strength)in the desired direction, such as through higher gain and directivityand reduced interference due to signals from sources deviating from thedesired direction. In this regard, signal strength of command/controllinks and/or application data channels may be improved, and/orinterference of signals from different base stations may be reducedthrough the use of a directional antenna. Antenna housing 112 may becontained within a housing of UAV 110 (e.g., embedded within the housingand/or circuitry of UAV 110), or disposed (e.g., mounted) outside ahousing of UAV 110 as an attachable and/or removable module. Antennahousing 112 may further include one or more antenna shields for theantenna/radio transceivers in antenna housing 112, which may be used todirectionally block radio signals on a cellular network from one or moreof base stations 112 a-c, thereby further directionally receiving radiosignals from other sources (e.g., base stations 112 a-c). In some cases,the shields and/or antenna of antenna housing 112 may be movable alongand/or rotatable about one, two, or three axes. In other cases, theshields and/or antenna of antenna housing 112 may be fixed (e.g., notmovable and not rotatable). Antenna housing 112 may include an antennausing a cellular technology (e.g., using LTE or other cellulartechnology communication signal).

One or more radio transceivers of antenna housing 112 may be used tocommunication on a cellular network using cellular tower signals frombase stations 122 a-c. In this the shield(s) of antenna housing 112 maybe used to mimic ground based loss and interference of ground based RFsignal propagation from base stations 122 a-c. The shield(s) may includeone or more components having RF absorption and/or reflectioncapabilities, such as material that may reflect or absorb RF signalsfrom base stations 122 a-c when interposed between RF signals from basestations 122 a-c to the antenna of antenna housing 112. Antenna housing112 may have a number of shields based on an altitude that UAV 110 maytravel at while on a flight path or route, for example, where additionalshields may be required at higher altitudes due to increasedinterference of RF signals from base stations 122 a-c due to lack ofground based terrain and clutter. Additional shields may thereforeprovide additional absorption and/or reflection/rejection of RF signalsfrom reaching the antenna within antenna housing 112. Placement of theshields may be selected based on a controller of antenna housing 112and/or a processor of UAV 110, which may utilize location informationfrom the flight control unit and information of ground basedloss/interference for signal propagation of RF signals from basestations 122 a-c. In various embodiments, placement of the shield(s) maybe chosen so that the shields may cover an opposite direction from thedirection of travel of UAV 110, thereby eliminating interference of RFsignals from a base station that UAV 110 is travelling away from.However, other placements may also be used, for example, based on signalstrength and/or when approaching one of base stations 122 a-c that UAV110 would like to communicate with during approach and flight. Thesignal strength may be, or may be based on, measurements such asreceived signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal receivedpower (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal-to-noiseratio (SNR), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), and/orother measurements. Such measurements of signal strength may be detectedand/or computed by UAV 110. In an aspect, signal strength may bereferred to as signal quality, signal level, or signal power. Highersignal strength is generally associated with better reception.

Thus, an antenna of antenna housing 112 may be used to message with oneor more of base stations 122 a-c. In various embodiments, thecommunication unit of UAV 110 may further include suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces, memory, and/or code that enable wiredcommunications, e.g. with one or more of base stations 122 a-c, and/orcellular network carrier 120 directly. In this regard, UAV 110 may beconfigured to interface with a wired network, such as via an Ethernetinterface, power-line modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem, PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) modem, cable modem, and/or otherappropriate components for wired communication. A wired link may beimplemented with a power-line cable, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,or other cable or wires that support corresponding wired networktechnologies. For example, UAV 110 may utilize wired connections when ator near ground level, such as a wired connection between UAV 110 and oneor more ground level devices or cellular network carrier 120 forfacilitating testing and/or calibration/setup of UAV 110. In otherembodiments, the communication unit may send and/or receive information,including flight paths and cellular network information, over a cellulartechnology signal/network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, and/or other 3GPP-basedcellular network) to one or more of base stations 122 a-c. Thus, UAV 110may wirelessly communicate with other devices using wireless standards,such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 standard, Bluetooth® standard, ZigBee® standard, and/or otherwireless standards; cellular standards, such as 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 5G,and/or other cellular standards; infrared-based communication;optical-based communications; and/or other appropriate communicationstandards and/or protocols. In some cases, UAV 110 may be configured tocommunicate with another device using a proprietary wirelesscommunication protocol and interface.

The payload unit may be configured to implement features supported byUAV 110 and facilitate implementation of such features. The payload unitmay include any equipment and associated logic, circuitry, interfaces,memory, and/or code. Depending on an application(s) of UAV 110, thepayload unit may include one or more onboard sensors, which may becontained within a housing of UAV 110 or mounted outside the housing ofUAV 110. By way of non-limiting example, sensors may includeenvironmental sensors, such as temperature sensors, rain sensors,pressure sensors, humidity sensors, fog sensors, gas sensors, etc., orcombination thereof; object/obstacle detection sensors, such as radarsensors, proximity sensors, motion detectors, etc., or combinationthereof; imaging sensors (e.g., cameras); acoustic sensors, and/or othertypes of sensors, or combination thereof. Such sensors may be utilizedto prevent collisions, and may include other necessary processingfeatures for a collision avoidance system. Alternatively or in addition,the payload unit may include tools, actuators, robotic manipulators,etc., capable of performing an action, such as touching, grasping,delivering, and/or measuring objects. For delivery applications, thepayload unit may include the object to be delivered, e.g. the object maybe secured within a housing of UAV 110. Payload unit may also containnecessary rechargeable power sources, including a rechargeable solarbattery and associated solar charging panel or photovoltaic chargingsource.

User device 130 may be, and/or may include, a mobile phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a tablet device, a computer, or generally anydevice that is operable to communicate wirelessly (e.g., via cellularstandards using antennas) with UAV 110, cellular network carrier 120,and/or one or more of base stations 122 a-c. In an aspect, user device130 may be a device at ground level that utilizes the wireless networkprovided by cellular network carrier 120. In this regard, user device130 may receive radio signals from one or more of base stations 122 a-c,which may be configured to provide the wireless network to user device130 based on ground objects 126. Thus, the wireless network provided byone or more of base stations 122 a-c may be specifically calibratedand/or configured for communication with user device 130 based on groundobjects 126.

In some cases, UAV 110 and/or user device 130 may be configured tointerface with a wired network, such as via an Ethernet interface,power-line modem, DSL modem, PSTN modem, cable modem, and/or otherappropriate components for wired communication. Alternatively or inaddition, UAV 110 and/or user device 130 may support proprietary wiredcommunication protocols and interfaces. UAV 110 and user device 130 maybe configured to communicate over a wired link (e.g., through a networkrouter, switch, hub, or other network device) for purposes of wiredcommunication, e.g. such as during testing, setup, and/or calibrationstages of UAV 110 and/or during use of user device 130. UAV 110 may beat or near ground level to receive a wired connection. Although a singleUAV and user device (e.g., UAV 110 and user device 130) is shown in FIG.1, multiple UAVs and user devices (e.g., multiple UAVs and/or userdevices) may be utilized and function similarly.

One or more of base stations 122 a-c may include, may be a component of,and/or may be referred to as, a cell, a Node B (NB), an Evolved Node B(eNodeB or eNB), or a Home eNB (HeNB). One or more of base stations 122a-c include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, memory, and/or codethat enable communications, e.g. with user device 130, one of the otherbase stations 122 a-c, and/or cellular network carrier 120, via wirelessinterfaces and utilizing one or more radio transceivers (e.g., RF signalantennas). In an aspect, base stations 122 a-c may transmit (e.g.,broadcast) messages that, if received by UAV 110, facilitate directingand/or placement of one or more shields within antenna housing 112 ofUAV 110 in order to provide shielding of one or more antennas of UAV110, as well as navigation of UAV 110. In some cases, the messagestransmitted by base stations 122 a-c may be based on information basestations 122 a-c receive from cellular network carrier 120. In somecases, one or more of base stations 122 a-c may be mobile (e.g., mobilebase stations at ground level, mobile base stations at flight altitudes,mobile naval-based base stations, etc.), in which case its positioninformation is dynamic.

Base stations 122 a-c may be macrocell base stations, microcell basestations, picocell base stations, femtocell base stations, and/or othercell sizes. For example, the macrocell base station may provide acoverage area over a radial range up to the tens or hundreds ofkilometers, the picocell base station may provide coverage over a radialrange in the hundreds of meters, and the femtocell base station mayprovide coverage over a radial range in the tens of meters. In FIG. 1,base stations 122 a, 122 b, and 122 c have nominal coverage area 124 a,124 b, and 124 c, respectively, at ground level or near ground level.The coverage area of a base station may be different in differentenvironments, at different altitudes, and at different frequency bands.For example, a base station may have a smaller coverage area on a rainyday than the same base station on a sunny day, e.g. due to attenuationof signals by rain. When altitudes are taken into consideration, thecoverage area provided by base stations 122 a-c may more appropriatelybe referred to as a coverage volume, with different coverage areas atdifferent altitudes. In an aspect, a coverage area of a base station maybe larger at flight altitudes (e.g., 400 feet) than at lower altitudessuch as ground level, due to fewer obstructions at flight altitudes forexample. Due to the change in coverage area at altitude, UAV 110 mayencounter interference and other signal issues during flight at altitudedue to the lack of ground based loss, thereby not having a dominant RFsignaling station from base stations 122 a-c to utilize. As used herein,the coverage area and coverage volume may be referred to more generallyas a coverage region, where the region may be two-dimensional (e.g.,coverage area) or three-dimensional (e.g., coverage volume).

Cellular network carrier 120 may be, may include, and/or may be acomponent of, a core network for processing information from UAVs (e.g.,UAV 110), user devices (e.g., user device 130), and/or base stations(e.g., base stations 122 a-c) and managing connections of the UAVsand/or user devices to the base stations. For example, cellular networkcarrier 120 may be, may include, and/or may be in communication with, amobile telephone switching office (MTSO). Cellular network carrier 120and base stations 122 a-c may be provided by a cellular network carrieror provider. Cellular network carrier 120 includes suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces, memory, and/or code that enable communications,e.g. with one or more of base stations 122 a-c and/or one or more UEs(e.g., UAV 110 and user device 130), via wireless interfaces and utilizeone or more radio transceivers. In this regard, cellular network carrier120 may be dedicated to facilitate connectivity of UAVs (or othervehicles/devices at flight altitude) with base stations 122 a-c (and/orother base stations), or may be utilized to facilitate connectivity ofUAVs and ground-based devices with base stations 122 a-c (and/or otherbase stations).

In an aspect, cellular network carrier 120 may be, may include, or maybe a part of, a server (e.g., a centralized server) that can generateand distribute information to base stations 122 a-c, as well as receiveinformation from base stations 122 a-c. Base stations 122 a-c may thenrelay the information from cellular network carrier 120 to UAV 110and/or user device 130. In some cases, when UAV 110 is in range ofcellular network carrier 120, cellular network carrier 120 may transmitinformation directly to UAV 110 (e.g., through a wired or wirelesssignal). In an aspect, cellular network carrier 120 may provide each ofbase stations 122 a-c with respective flight and/or travel route/pathinformation (e.g., position, altitude, route, obstacle, weather, andother necessary information to navigate UAV 110) to be transmitted(e.g., broadcasted) to UAV 110. In other embodiments, cellular networkcarrier 120 may directly provide the information to UAV 110. Cellularnetwork carrier 120 may also provide UAV 110 with information necessaryto determine positioning and/or orientation of shields of antennahousing 112

Base stations 122 a-c may be in communication with cellular networkcarrier 120 through a backhaul network. Cellular network carrier 120 maybe in direct communication with one or more of base stations 122 a-c orin communication with one or more of base stations 122 a-c through oneor more intermediary base stations. For example, in FIG. 1, cellularnetwork carrier 120 is in direct communication with base stations 122a-c. In other cases, a base station may be in communication withcellular network carrier 120 via one or more intervening base stations.In an embodiment, cellular network carrier 120 may determine and/or haveaccess to signal strength statistics at different positions (e.g.,altitudes) and/or different frequency bands, e.g. based on themeasurement reports generated by the UEs, including UAV 110 and/or userdevice 130. In some cases, cellular network carrier 120 may determinepreferred frequency bands to be utilized at various altitudes based onthe signal strength statistics. Additionally, cellular network carrier120 may determine ground level interference and loss due to geographicconditions, terrain, and additional clutter (e.g., human made objects,persons, vehicles, etc.), which may be mapped or otherwise associatedwith ground level locations. The information may be used to determine adominant or selected base station at a ground level location, as well asother RF signal propagation at ground level. In information may also beused to select positioning and orientation of the shields of antennahousing 112 during flight of UAV 110 to mimic the ground level loss.

The flight path 140 may be a portion of a flight path along which UAV110 is moving or intends to move in going from a starting point to adestination point. The flight path 140 may be defined by a set ofpositions, including positions 142 a-d shown in FIG. 1, at which UAV 110is located, has been located, or is expected to be located. Thepositions 142 a-d may each be associated with a set of three-dimensionalcoordinates (e.g., longitude, latitude, altitude). For example, during aflight route, the starting point may be a warehouse or takeoff point atwhich UAV 110 is provided with the travel route for execution.

At the position 142 a, UAV 110 may be within coverage area 124 a forbase station 122 a. Different base stations may provide better signalstrength at the different positions 142 a-d along flight path 140. Forexample, among base stations 122 a-c, the base station 122 a may begenerally associated with the highest signal strength at the position142 a, whereas the base station 122 b may have higher signal strength ofposition 142 b and base station 122 c may be generally associated withhigher signal strength at the positions 142 c and 142 d.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coverage areas 124 a-c of base stations 122 a-cmay overlap. The coverage areas 124 a-c may represent the coverage areasof base stations 122 a-c at ground level. UAV 110 may be within range oftwo or more of base stations 122 a-c, thereby causing interference orother signal issues and/or degradation. For example, UAV 110 may bewithin range of the base stations 122 a and 122 b in an overlap region150. Based on a specific position of UAV 110, signal strength betweenUAV 110 and the base station 122 a may be different from (e.g., strongerthan, weaker than) signal strength between UAV 110 and the base station122 b. In some cases, the overlap in the coverage regions may be morepronounced at flight altitudes than at ground level, such as due tofewer obstructions. Thus, overlap region 150 may correspond tointerference areas or potential issues in coverage at altitude of basestations 122 a and 122 b when providing coverage areas 124 a and 124 b.

During flight path 140, UAV 110 may therefore enter into RF signal rangeof base stations 122 a-c having coverage areas 124 a-c. In an aspect,the flight path 140 may be a preprogrammed flight path, e.g. preloadedby cellular network carrier 120 to UAV. For example, UAV 110 maycommunicate (e.g., directly or indirectly) with cellular network carrier120 and provide a starting point (e.g., a current position of UAV 110)and a destination point. In response, cellular network carrier 120 maygenerate and provide to UAV 110 one or more potential flight paths. Anoperator of UAV 110 and/or user device 130 may select and/or confirm theflight path to be utilized. In further embodiments, during flight of UAV110, UAV 110 may autonomously make adjustments to the flight path 140,or may be instructed of the flight path and/or adjustments to the flightpath. The adjustments may be based on onboard sensors (e.g., for sensingobstacles, weather, etc.) and/or based on information received from oneor more of base stations 122 a-c (e.g., obstacle, weather, trafficemergency information). In an aspect, UAV 110 may be operated tomaintain a minimum distance separation between UAV 110 and other UAVs,and/or between UAV 110 and obstacles, e.g. such as minimum distanceseparation requirements or recommendations from the Federal AviationAdministration (FAA). In some cases, a flight path of UAV 110 may have afixed altitude level (e.g., UAV 110 has to fly somewhere between a fixedminimum altitude level and a fixed maximum altitude level) and/or anoperating frequency of UAV 110 may be within a fixed frequency band(e.g., fixed frequency range). Such parameters on the flight path of UAV110 may be set by cellular network carrier 120 and/or flightregulations.

Thus, the flight path and/or connectivity between UAV 110 and thecellular network via base stations 122 a-c (and/or other base stations)may be further facilitated through additional information such asobstacle, weather, traffic management information (e.g., air trafficmanagement information), emergency broadcast information, and/orgenerally any other information that may be static or dynamic in theairspace that can be communicated to facilitate communication of UAV 110with use of the cellular network. The obstacle information and weatherinformation may identify obstacles (e.g., trees, buildings) and weather(e.g., rain, fog, hail) within coverage regions of the base stations 122a-122 c, or portion thereof. For example, the base station 122 a mayprovide position information (e.g., latitude, longitude, height)encompassed by the obstacles. The traffic management information mayprovide information indicative of signal strengths at differentfrequency bands and/or at different positions (e.g., altitudes,longitudes, and/or latitudes). In some cases, the traffic managementinformation may provide preferred frequency bands at differentaltitudes. The emergency broadcast information may identify trafficincidences and/or no-fly zones (e.g., temporary no-fly zones due tothese traffic incidences). Such information may allow UAV 110 to selectthe base station to connect with during flight, adjust a frequency bandutilized for communication, and/or adjust a flight path (e.g., analtitude of various points along the flight path).

During or after execution of flight path 140 by UAV 110, antenna housing112 may adjust one or more internal shields to shield an internalantenna of antenna housing 112 used by UAV 110 to communicate on thewireless network provided by base stations 122 a-c. Location informationof UAV 110 during flight may be used with the information on groundbased loss and interference of RF signals from base stations 122 a-c incoverage areas 124 a-c to determine placement of the internal shields,as discussed herein. For example, the internal shield(s) may be placedor oriented to mimic ground level loss/interference and select one ofbase stations 122 a-c for communication with on the cellular network byblocking RF signals from the other ones of base stations 122 a-c. Thelocation information may include a longitude, latitude, and altitude ofUAV 110, and/or information indicative of the longitude, latitude, andaltitude (e.g., information from which cellular network carrier 120 mayderive the longitude, latitude, and altitude). In some cases, ratherthan the longitude, latitude, and/or altitude coordinates, othercoordinate systems by which to define the position of base stations 122a-c may be utilized.

As previously discussed, cellular network carrier 120 and/or anotherthird party entity providing network coverage diagnostics and analysismay determine the information of RF signal propagation, ground levelloss/interference, and/or other information of RF signal transmissionand reception of RF signals from base stations 122 a-c having coverageareas 124 a-c and ground level UEs, such as user device 110. Theinformation may further include altitude based interferences of coverageareas 124 a-c in a 3D space, which may display propagation of signalsfrom base stations 122 a-c having coverage areas 124 a-c. Thus, theinformation may be used to select a base station for transmission ofsignals at specific locations in 3D (e.g., for a specific latitude,longitude, and altitude). In certain embodiments, selection of theantenna shielding placement/orientation may be based on measurements ofrelative signal strengths of signals from different base stations andinterferences of similar signaling. The base station that is selectedmay differ at different altitudes and/or at different frequency bandsused for communication. To facilitate connectivity between base stations122 a-c and UAVs (e.g., UAV 110) during flight of the UAVs, informationfor ground level interference/loss may be used for base stations 122a-c.

Using this information with the location information, antenna housing112 may configure one or more internal shields to mimic ground levelloss/interference, and connect with one or more of base stations 122 a-cin coverage areas 124 a-c during a flight route. UAV 110 may maintain awireless communication link between UAV 110 and one of base stations 122a-c in order to send and/or receive information at an acceptable signalstrength during at least a portion of a flight path of UAV 110 throughthe shielding provided by antenna housing 112. Received information byUAV 110 may correspond to a flight path or route information, and/or anychanges or deviations to the selected route. In certain embodiments, theantenna of antenna housing 112 may also receive information forarrangement and/or orientation of the shields over the wirelesscommunication link. Thus, antenna shielding arrangement and orientationmay be selected and rearranged during flight path 140 based on thelocation information and the information of ground based loss. Theshields of antenna housing 112 may therefore be used to receive RFsignals from another base station when the signal strength and/or signalstrength statistics associated with signals from the selected one ofbase stations 122 a-c falls below a threshold value or otherwise wouldbe different at a ground level location associated with UAV 110'spresent location.

In an embodiment, UAV 110 may receive information (e.g., geographicclutter and/or information) from non-network devices (also referred toas non-network nodes). In this regard, base stations 122 a-c andcellular network carrier 120 may be referred to as network devices ornetwork nodes of the cellular network. In some cases, a non-networkdevice may provide one-way communication from the non-network device toUAV 110. A non-network device may be placed at locations at or near anobstacle for example, and broadcast (e.g., using its antenna(s)) itsposition information and/or other geographic information to help preventcollision of UAV 110 and/or other UEs/UAVs with the obstacle. As anexample, the non-network device may be placed at or near a tall tree. Asanother example, the non-network device may be placed at a locationdesignated as a no-fly zone and utilized as a no-fly zone beacon. Forinstance, a traffic accident (e.g., whether between two cars at groundlevel, two UAVs, a car and a building, and so forth) may cause emergencyhelicopters and/or other aircrafts to deployed in and/or around theno-fly zone. UAV 110 may impede emergency response if flown in or aroundthe no-fly zone.

Although FIG. 1 is described with respect to UAV 110, the UE maygenerally be any device, e.g. at ground level or at higher altitudes,that can collect cellular network information using an antenna housing112. Although UAV 110 is depicted as including a single antenna, in somecases UAV 110 may have more and/or different antennas than those shownin FIG. 1. For example, in an aspect, UAV 110 does not include anomnidirectional antenna, and/or UAV 110 includes multiple directionalantennas. In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a networkconfiguration. Other network configurations may be utilized to allowcommunication between UAV 110, cellular network carrier 120, basestations 122 a-c, and user device 130. The network environment 100 mayinclude a different number of UAVs, user devices, base stations, and/ornetwork management systems than that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of base station transmitting a cellularnetwork signal that is affected by ground level objects causinginterference and loss, according to an embodiment. Environment 200 ofFIG. 2 includes UAV 110 having antenna housing 112 discussed inreference to network environment 100 of FIG. 1. Additionally, a basetower 122 having coverage area 124 corresponds generally to one of basestations 122 a-c having coverage areas 124 a-c, respectively, in networkenvironment 100 of FIG. 1. Moreover, ground objects 126 a-c, and userdevices 130 a-b corresponds generally to ground objects 126 and userdevice 130, respectively, in network environment 100 of FIG. 1.

In various embodiments, environment 200 of FIG. 2 demonstrates signaldifferences between UEs located at ground level (e.g., user devices 130a-b) and UEs at altitude (e.g., UAV 110). As shown in FIG. 2,environment 200 includes base station 122 broadcasting RF signals withincoverage area 124 for communication with UEs. The radio signals maycorrespond to a cellular network, or other network used for wirelesscommunications. In general, base station 122 is optimized fortransmission of radio signals in coverage area 124 at a ground level,such as two meters or similar off the ground where many ground basedwireless devices operate (e.g., user devices 130 a-b). Thus, basestation 122 and coverage area 124 are optimized to take into accountground objects 126 a-c, such as office buildings, homes, and/or trees.Other geographic conditions, terrain, and/or ground based objects may beconsidered, includes human bodies, vehicles, geographic affects, and thelike. Additional human made or nature geographical objects andconditions may similarly affect radio signals from base station 122 incoverage area 124. Ground objects 126 a-c may therefore cause signalinterference and/or loss due to additional unwanted signal,interruption, RF signal absorption or reflection, or other causes ofsignal interference or loss. Thus, base station 122 may be configured totransmit within coverage area 124 based on such interference/loss and bethe dominant RF signal carrier for coverage area 124. Users utilizinguser device 130 a-b may receive optimized radio signal coverage area 124for the wireless network from base station 122 based on suchconsiderations by a cellular network operator or carrier at a groundlevel. A similar nearby base station may further transmit within acoverage area based on ground based geographic terrain and clutter,where such a base station is the dominant RF signal carrier for theregion when user devices 130 a-b are within that region.

However, UAV 110 may be flying at an altitude where ground objects 126a-c do not impede radio signal transmissions from base station 122within coverage area 124. Instead, other interference may occur ataltitude, for example, from another base station having an overlappingsignal coverage area at altitude due to the lack of ground basedgeographic conditions impeding signal propagation and causing groundlevel interference or loss. At the altitude, other factors may influencesignal transmissions, interferences, and/or messaging on the cellularnetwork provided by base station 122. In order to communicate on thecellular network provided by these base towers, UAV 110 may utilize anantenna with a specialized dynamic shield component in antenna housing112 to the antenna to selectively block RF signals from specificdirections of incidence. For example, while within the ground levelcoverage area 124 of base station 122 at altitude (e.g., determined fromthe coverage area along a 2D coordinate system or the coverage volume ina 3D coordinate system), antenna housing 112 may adjust one or moreshields to the RF signal antenna of UAV 110 to allow RF signals incoverage area 124 from base station 122, while absorbing or reflectingother RF signals. Positioning and orientation of the shields may bedetermined based on the location of UAV 110, coverage area 124, and/orground objects 126 a-c causing the ground level interference/loss. Thus,antenna housing 112 may adjust the shields to mimic the ground levelinterference/loss within coverage area 124 at altitude for the antennaof UAV 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary UAV having a dynamicshielding unit that imitates ground level interference and loss ataltitude, according to an embodiment. System 300 includes unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) 110 and antenna housing 112 discussed in referenceto network environment 100 of FIG. 1. In this regard, UAV 110 and/or acontroller of antenna housing 112 may control one or more moveableshields of antenna housing 112 to provide RF signal shielding (e.g.,absorbing or reflecting) from RF signals from unwanted directions duringflight of UAV 110 in order to mimic ground level RF communications ofUEs while UAV 110 travels at altitude.

UAV 110 includes one or more processors, memories, and other appropriatecomponents for executing instructions such as program code and/or datastored on one or more computer readable mediums to implement the variousapplications, data, and steps described herein. For example, suchinstructions may be stored in one or more computer readable media suchas memories or data storage devices internal and/or external to variouscomponents of system 300, and/or accessible over network 160.

UAV 110 may be implemented as a UAV, UAS, drone, or other aerial vehiclethat may utilize appropriate hardware and software configured for wiredand/or wireless communication with cellular network carrier 120.Although only one UAV is shown, a plurality of UAVs may functionsimilarly. UAV 110 of FIG. 1 contains a processor 111 and antennahousing 112. Processor 111 may utilize executable processes, procedures,and/or applications with associated hardware to operate UAV 110, such asa flight controller and/or navigation component or unit. Processor 111may also be utilized to determine shielding orientations for antennahousing 112 and/or provide data required by a controller of antennahousing 112 for determination of the shielding orientations. In otherembodiments, UAV 110 may include additional or different modules havingspecialized hardware and/or software as required.

Processor 111 may correspond to one or more processing units of UAV 110to operate and navigate UAV 110, for example, to travel one or moreflight paths in order to collect cellular network information. In thisregard, processor 111 may be configured to facilitate navigation of UAV110, e.g., take off, landing, and flight of UAV 110, which may includeexecution of the flight path(s) or route(s). Processor 111 may includeany appropriate avionics, control actuators, and/or other equipment,along with associated logic, circuitry, interfaces, memory, and/or code.Additionally, processor 111 may include a controller that receivesflight route information from one or more sources, including memory 115and/or external controller (e.g., set instructions from cellular networkcarrier 120 and/or inflight navigation/instructions from an operator)that operates UAV 110. Thus, processor 111 may be fed flight controls,paths, and/or routes from one or more of memory 115 and/or communicationcomponent 114. Processor 111 may determine a location of UAV 110, whichmay be utilized with antenna housing 112 for shielding of one or moreantennas. Additionally, processor 111 may be utilized to determineshielding requirements for antenna housing 112, or may provideinformation to another controller of antenna housing 112 fordetermination of the shielding requirements. The provided informationmay include the location of UAV 110, as well as ground basedinterference/loss information for ground based UEs or cellular networkmapping, as appropriate. Processor 111 may also be utilized tocommunicate on a cellular network utilizing an antenna within antennahousing 112 (e.g., a 3G, 4G, 5G, and/or other 3GPP-based cellularnetwork).

Antenna housing 112 may be utilized to detect cellular networkinformation, for example, by receiving power (e.g., radio signals) fromone or more base stations or other cellular network signal propagationsource. Antenna housing 112 includes a housing shell 112 a, an antenna113, and shielding components 114 a-c. Housing shell 112 a may becontained within a housing of UAV 110 (e.g., embedded within the housingand/or circuitry of UAV 110), or disposed (e.g., mounted) outside ahousing of UAV 110 as an attachable and/or removable module. Housingshell 112 a may enclose the necessary components to provide a dynamicshield system of cellular signals for antenna 113 of UAV 110. Thus,housing shell 112 a may include additional, less, and/or differentcomponents to those shown in system 300, including necessary mechanicalcomponents, motors, powers sources, etc., for the placement,orientations, and rearrangement of shielding components 114 a-c.

Antenna 113 may sense the radio signals, and be used to record the radiosignals along with associated information (e.g., position information)to memory 115 for storage and use. In some cases, the antenna housing112 may be movable along and/or rotatable about one, two, or three axes.In other cases, the antenna housing 112 may be fixed (e.g., not movableand not rotatable). Antenna 113 may correspond to a cellular technology(e.g., using LTE or other cellular technology communication signal)antenna. Antenna 113 may be used to measure signal strength, signaldiagnostics, and/or interferences of cellular tower signals for acellular network. The signal strength may be, or may be based on,measures such as received signal strength indicator (RSSI), referencesignal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ),signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio(SINR), and/or other measures. Additionally, antenna 113 may be used tomessage and/or communicate with one or more base stations.

Shielding components 114 a-c may include wireless signal shieldingmaterials and necessary mechanical components to be movable and/orrotatable around antenna 113. Shielding components 114 a-c may block RFsignals from a direction of incidence to antenna 113 by moving tointerpose one or more of shielding components 114 a-c between thedirection of incidence and antenna 113. The material for shieldingcomponents 114 a-c may absorb and/or reflect wireless signals incomingfrom the incident direction (e.g., when interposed between the directionof the incoming wireless signal and antenna 113). Thus, when one or moreof shielding components 114 a-c are placed between antenna and theincoming direction of the wireless signal, the one or more of shieldingcomponents 114 a-c may prevent antenna 113 from detecting, absorbingand/or receiving the wireless signal, as well as transmitting wirelesssignals from antenna 113 to other receivers or transceivers in thatdirection. One or more of shielding components 114 a-c may completelyabsorb or reflect the signal, or partially absorb or reflect the signal.Thus, more than one of shielding components 114 a-c may be required incertain aspects to provide complete signal shielding from a direction.Shielding components 114 a-c may block signals on the cellular networkin the RF range used by the cellular network that are provided from basestations of the cellular network carrier within coverage areas of the RFsignals from those base stations. In other embodiments, shieldingcomponents 114 a-c may further or instead absorb or reflect wirelesssignals for other types of wireless networks, for example, toaccommodate other types of wireless communication signals (e.g.,satellite systems, short range wireless communication signals, etc.).However, in certain embodiments, the material used for shieldingcomponents 114 a-c may be selected to only block RF signals on thecellular network to allow other types of wireless communicationsselectively used for the UAV (e.g., line of sight communications tocontrol the UAV).

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary UAV controlling adynamic shield system of cellular signals for an antenna of the UAV,according to an embodiment. Not all of the depicted components may berequired, however, and one or more embodiments may include additionalcomponents shown in the additional Figures described herein. Variationsin the arrangement and type of the components may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the claims as set forth herein.Additional components, different components, and/or fewer components maybe provided. For explanatory purposes, processor 111 and an antennashielding controller 116 of UAV 110 is described herein with referenceto network environment 100 of FIG. 1 and system 300 of FIG. 3; however,antenna shielding controller 116 is not limited to network environment100 of FIG. 1 and/or and system 300 of FIG. 3.

UAV 110 may include processor 111, a memory 115, and antenna shieldingcontroller 116. Processor 111 may implement any control and feedbackoperations appropriate for interacting with the avionics, controlactuators, and/or other equipment included in the flight control unit tofly UAV 110, including, but not limited to, taking off, landing, and/orsetting/adjusting direction, velocity, and/or acceleration of UAV 110.In some cases, processor 111 may receive commands from user devices,base stations, and/or a cellular network carrier to, for example,configure and execute a flight plan (e.g., program a flight path),adjust a programmed flight path, deploy UAV 110, land UAV 110, navigateUAV 110, and/or other commands that facilitate navigating UAV 110 andutilizing UAV 110 to perform an action. In some cases, processor 111 mayreceive commands to move and/or rotate UAV 110 and/or a componentthereof (e.g., an antenna). Processor 111 may further be utilized tocontrol placement, movement, and/or orientation of one or more shieldingcomponents of antenna for UAV 110 using antenna shielding controller116, for example, by providing information to antenna shieldingcontroller 116 for placement/orientation of the shielding components toselectively block RF signals in order to mimic ground levelinterference/loss while UAV 110 travels at altitude.

Memory 115 may include flight paths and routes 2000 that may be outputto memory 115 from processor 111 at step 2300 during transfer of currentlocation and shielding information between memory 115 and processor 111.Flight paths and routes 2000 may include information for flight routes2001 and a current location 2002 during operation of UAV 110.Additionally, flight paths and routes 2000 includes ground-basedlocation similarity 2003, which may be determined based on currentlocation 2002 in order for processor 111 and/or antenna shieldingcontroller 116 to determine a shield configuration to mimic ground levelinterference/loss. Thus, processor 111 may further be utilized tomonitor (e.g., autonomously monitor) a current position of UAV 110.Processor 111 may include, or may be in communication with, a GPS thatprovides the position of UAV 110. In some cases, processor 111 mayimplement location determination techniques. For example, processor 111may determine a positional difference between UAV 110 and a base stationbased on the position information of UAV 110 and the base station.Processor 111 may then execute flight paths and routes accordingly tonavigate UAV 110.

Based on ground-based location similarity in data for flight paths androutes 2000, processor 111 may further retrieve antenna shielding data2100. Antenna shielding data 2100 includes ground-based geographicobjects 2101, network signal propagation 2102, base station locations2103, and altitude-based signal factors 2104, each of which may beutilized to determine shielding orientation and/or placement of one ormore RF signal shields for an antenna of UAV 110. Processor 111 maydetermine an antenna shield configuration, and output the antenna shieldconfiguration to antenna shielding controller 116. Thus, antennashielding controller 116 may utilize present antenna shieldconfiguration 2304 to move, orient, or place one or more RF shieldssurrounding an antenna in order to receive select RF signals as would aUE at ground-based location similarity 2003. In other embodiments, datafor flight paths and routes 2000 and antenna shielding data 2100 mayinstead be transmitted to antenna shielding controller 116.

While an example manner of implementing UAV 110 is illustrated in FIG.4, one or more of the components (e.g., elements, processes, and/ordevices) illustrated in FIG. 4 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,omitted, eliminated, and/or implemented in any other way. Further, thecomponents of UAV 110 in FIG. 4 may be implemented by hardware,software, firmware, and/or any combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware. Thus, for example, any of the components of UAV 110 may beimplemented by one or more analog and/or digital circuits, logiccircuits, programmable processors, application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), and/or fieldprogrammable logic devices (FPLDs). In this regard, when implementedusing circuitry, the components of UAV 110 may be referred to as UAVprocessing circuit, communication transceiver circuit, mobilitycontroller circuit, and autonomous positioner circuit, respectively.When reading any claims as set forth herein to cover purely softwareand/or firmware implementations, at least one of the components of UAV110 is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible computer readablestorage device or storage disk such as a memory, digital versatile disk(DVD), compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray Disc™, and/or other storagedevice/disk storing the software and/or firmware.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for a dynamic shield system ofcellular signals for an antenna of a UAV, according to an embodiment.Note that one or more steps, processes, and methods described herein inflowchart 500 may be omitted, performed in a different sequence, orcombined as desired or appropriate.

At step 502, a navigation route for an unmanned aerial vehicle toexecute during flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle is received.

At step 504, an orientation of a radio signal shield for an antenna ofthe unmanned aerial vehicle is determined using ground level signalpropagation information of radio signals for a network and thenavigation route, wherein the radio signal shield prevents or attenuatesthe radio signals from being received by the antenna from directionsbased on the orientation. The radio signal shield may include one ormore components or materials that prevent or attenuate reception ofradio frequency signals by the antenna from an opposite direction oftravel of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the travel route, wherein thecomponent(s) rotates to prevent or attenuate the reception of the radiofrequency signals by the antenna from directions that the antenna doesnot require the radio frequency signals. In order to prevent orattenuate radio frequency signals, the component(s) may comprise atleast one of a radio frequency absorbing material or a radio frequencyreflecting material of radio frequency signals. The orientation of thecomponent(s) may be dependent on travel route direction of travel of theunmanned aerial vehicle along a flight path, such as the navigationroute, as well as an altitude of the UAV. Additionally, a number ofcomponent(s) used to shield the antenna may be dependent on the altitudeof the unmanned aerial vehicle during operation. Where there aremultiple components, the orientation may comprise an arrangement of theplurality of components around the antenna.

The ground level signal propagation information or other antennashielding data may specific for a geographic region of travel by theunmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle operates byflying a route within the geographic region. The information or otherdata may be determined using radio signal coverage areas at a groundlevel for base stations of a cellular network carrier providing thenetwork. Additionally, the information or other data may compriseplacement information for the component(s) used to send and receive theradio signals with a selected base station of the base stations usingthe antenna, wherein the selected base station is further selected by asimilar user endpoint at the ground level corresponding to a currentposition of the unmanned aerial vehicle during operation. Thus, theplacement information for the component(s) may mimic geographicconditions at the ground level for the antenna.

At step 506, the radio signal shield is adjusted using the orientation.And at step 508, the unmanned aerial vehicle communicates with acellular base station of the network using the antenna. Communicating onthe network comprises sending and receiving the radio signals by theantenna with a base station selected based on the placement ororientation of the component(s). The network may comprise one of a 3G, a4G, a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE), or a 5G network for communicationwith user endpoints including the unmanned aerial vehicle. In variousembodiments, during further operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle, achange in a route travelled by the unmanned aerial vehicle is received.Thus, a second placement or orientation is determined of thecomponent(s) using the signal propagation and/or antenna shielding dataand the change in the route, and the components are arranged or movedbased on the second placement or orientation before furthercommunications or during those communications on the network

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example of an electronic systemwith which one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may beimplemented, according to an embodiment. In various embodiments,computer system 600 of FIG. 6 may comprise a personal computing device(e.g., smart phone, a computing tablet, a personal computer, laptop, awearable computing device such as glasses or a watch, Bluetooth device,key FOB, badge, etc.) capable of communicating with the network. Inother embodiments, a cellular network carrier or provider may utilize anetwork computing device (e.g., a network server) capable ofcommunicating with the network similar to computer system 600. Moreover,one or more of the systems of a UAV may include and/or functionsimilarly to computer system 600. It should be appreciated that each ofthe devices utilized by users and/or service providers (e.g., cellularnetwork carriers) may be implemented as computer system 600 in a manneras follows.

Computer system 600 includes a bus 602 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information data, signals, and information betweenvarious components of computer system 600. Components include aninput/output (I/O) component 604 that processes a user action, such asselecting keys from a keypad/keyboard, selecting one or more buttons,image, or links, and/or moving one or more images, etc., and sends acorresponding signal to bus 602. I/O component 604 may also include anoutput component, such as a display 611 and a cursor control 613 (suchas a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). An optional audio input/outputcomponent 605 may also be included to allow a user to use voice forinputting information by converting audio signals. Audio I/O component605 may allow the user to hear audio. A transceiver or network interface606 transmits and receives signals between computer system 600 and otherdevices, such as another communication device, service device, or aservice provider server via network 160. Network 160 may be implementedas a single network or a combination of multiple networks. For example,in various embodiments, network 160 may include the Internet or one ormore intranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or otherappropriate types of networks. Thus, network 160 may correspond to smallscale communication networks, such as a private or local area network,or a larger scale network, such as a wide area network or the Internet,accessible by the various components described herein. In variousembodiments, the transmission is wireless, although other transmissionmediums and methods may also be suitable. One or more processors 612,which can be a micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), orother processing component, processes these various signals, such as fordisplay on computer system 600 or transmission to other devices via acommunication link 618. Processor(s) 612 may also control transmissionof information, such as cookies or IP addresses, to other devices.

Components of computer system 600 also include a system memory component614 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 616 (e.g., ROM), and/or adisk drive 617. Computer system 600 performs specific operations byprocessor(s) 612 and other components by executing one or more sequencesof instructions contained in system memory component 614. Logic may beencoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor(s) 612 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Invarious embodiments, non-volatile media includes optical or magneticdisks, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memorycomponent 614, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copperwire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 602. Invarious embodiments, the logic is encoded in non-transitory computerreadable medium. In one example, transmission media may take the form ofacoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave,optical, and infrared data communications.

Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example,floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, anyother physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EEPROM,FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other mediumfrom which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution ofinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may beperformed by computer system 600. In various other embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 600 coupled bycommunication link 618 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN,and/or various other wired or wireless networks, includingtelecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may performinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordinationwith one another.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosuremay be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware componentsand/or software components set forth herein may be combined intocomposite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable,the various hardware components and/or software components set forthherein may be separated into sub-components comprising software,hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated thatsoftware components may be implemented as hardware components andvice-versa.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as programcode and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readablemediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may beimplemented using one or more general purpose or specific purposecomputers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Whereapplicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may bechanged, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-stepsto provide features described herein.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosureto the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, itis contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modificationsto the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or impliedherein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus describedembodiments of the present disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is limited only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a systemcomprising a processor, a flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle; andconfiguring, by the system, a placement of an antenna shield withrespect to an antenna of the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight alongthe flight path to mimic a signal characteristic at ground level forcommunication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station atthe ground level.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flight pathcomprises a lowest altitude and a highest altitude of the unmannedaerial vehicle in the flight path, and configuring the placement of theantenna shield based on the lowest altitude and the highest altitude ofthe unmanned aerial vehicle in the flight path.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein configuring the placement comprises modifying the placementof the antenna shield responsive to condition changes during the flightto maintain the mimic of the signal characteristic.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the signal characteristic is a signal interferencecharacteristic.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signalcharacteristic is a signal loss characteristic.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein configuring the placement of the antenna shield is based on aweather condition in the flight path.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinconfiguring the placement of the antenna shield comprises obtaininginformation regarding changes in the signal characteristic along theflight path.
 8. A system, comprising: a processor; and a memory thatstores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: determining a flightpath of a drone; and modifying an orientation of an adjustable barrierwith respect to an antenna of the drone during flight along the flightpath to imitate a signal characteristic at ground level forcommunication between the drone and an access point at the ground level.9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flight path comprises a lowerlimit altitude and a higher limit altitude of the drone in the flightpath, and configuring the orientation of the adjustable barrier based onthe lower limit altitude and the higher limit altitude of the drone inthe flight path.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein modifying theorientation comprises continuously adjusting the orientation of theadjustable barrier during the flight to maintain imitation of the signalcharacteristic.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the signalcharacteristic is signal interference.
 12. The system of claim 8,wherein the signal characteristic is signal loss.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein modifying the orientation of the adjustable barrier isbased on an obstacle in a defined area of the flight path.
 14. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein modifying the orientation of the adjustablebarrier comprises obtaining information regarding changes in the signalcharacteristic along the flight path.
 15. A non-transitorymachine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, whenexecuted by a processor of an aerial vehicle, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: analyzing a flight path of the aerial vehicle;and based on the analyzing, adjusting a configuration of an adjustableshield with respect to an antenna of the aerial vehicle during flightalong the flight path to conform to a signal characteristic at groundlevel for communication between the aerial vehicle and a network accesspoint at the ground level.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 15, wherein the flight path comprises a lower limit onaltitude and an upper limit on altitude of the aerial vehicle in theflight path, and configuring the configuration of the adjustable shieldbased on the lower limit on altitude and the upper limit on altitude ofthe aerial vehicle in the flight path.
 17. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein adjusting the configurationcomprises periodically adjusting the configuration of the adjustableshield during the flight to maintain conformance to the signalcharacteristic.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim15, wherein the signal characteristic is signal interference.
 19. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signalcharacteristic is signal loss.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 15, wherein adjusting the configuration of theadjustable shield is based on an environmental condition in the flightpath.